The Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd ODI results revealed a dominant South African performance in the ongoing ODI series. South Africa comfortably defeated Pakistan by 8 wickets, leveling the three-match series 1–1 at the Iqbal Cricket Stadium. Quinton de Kock led the chase with a magnificent unbeaten 123, guiding the visitors to victory in emphatic fashion.
Pakistan’s Innings: A Decent Start, but No Strong Finish
Saim Ayub’s Fifty Steadies Pakistan
Saim Ayub once again shouldered responsibility, scoring a well-composed 53 runs to anchor the innings after early jitters. Salman Ali Agha (69) and Mohammad Nawaz (59) made some contributions to reach a good score.
Once Saim Ayub got set, he tried to accelerate, but South Africa’s disciplined bowling made boundaries hard to come by, and he lost his wicket.
Nandre Burger and Corbin Bosch Apply the Pressure
South Africa’s bowlers were sharp throughout. Nandre Burger struck in the power play, removing Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan, while Bjorn Fortuin and Donovan Ferreira bowled tight spells in the middle overs. Their accuracy restricted Pakistan’s scoring options.
The middle order struggled to find momentum as wickets fell regularly. Contributions from Mohammad Nawaz (59) and Faheem Ashraf (28) pushed Pakistan to a total of 269/9 in 50 overs, which looked slightly below par on a good batting surface.
Also Read: Pakistan vs South Africa 1st ODI Results: Pakistan Clinch a Thrilling 2-Wicket Victory at Iqbal Stadium
South Africa’s Chase: A Clinical Display
Quinton de Kock’s Match-Winning Century
In response, South Africa began their chase with intent. Quinton de Kock, who had looked out of rhythm in the first ODI, rediscovered his best form. He dominated the Pakistani attack, finding boundaries at will and rotating the strike smartly.
His opening partner, Lhuna-dre Pretorius, contributed 81 before being dismissed by Mohammad Wasim Jr., but by then, South Africa had already built a strong platform.
De Kock’s century came at a strike rate of 103.36, filled with exquisite cover drives and fearless pulls. His unbeaten 123 off 119 deliveries, studded with 8 fours and 7 sixes, was the defining performance of the match.
Tony de Zorzi’s Support Role
At the other end, Tony de Zorzi played a steady hand, scoring a 76, ensuring there were no hiccups in the chase. The duo added over 163 runs for the second wicket, sealing the game in 40.1 overs.
Pakistan’s Bowling Struggles
Pakistan’s bowlers looked off-color throughout the second innings. Shaheen Afridi was wicketless and expensive. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim Jr. failed to make any significant impact, conceding too many boundary balls.
The spinners couldn’t build pressure, and South Africa capitalized with smart shot selection and excellent running between the wickets.
Key Highlights of the Match
🏏 Top Performers
- Quinton de Kock (SA) – 123* (119 balls)
- Tony de Zorzi (SA) – 76 (63 balls)
- Salman Ali Agha (PAK) – 69 (109 balls)
- Nandre Burger (SA) – 4/46 (10 overs)
🏟️ Match Summary
- Venue: Iqbal Stadium
- Pakistan: 269/9 (50 overs)
- South Africa: 270/2 (40.1 overs)
- Result: South Africa won by 8 wickets
- Player of the Match: Quinton de Kock
Series Level at 1–1: Decider to Come
What’s Next?
The win means the ODI series is now tied 1–1, setting up a thrilling series decider in the third match. Pakistan will need to regroup quickly, focusing on improving bowling consistency and fielding.
Meanwhile, South Africa will take confidence from this dominant win, especially their top-order form and bowling control.
Pakistan’s Challenges
Pakistan must address their batting collapses and death-over bowling, which have cost them momentum in both ODIs. The team might consider tactical changes, including bringing in a specialist finisher or an extra spinner.
South Africa’s Momentum
South Africa’s balanced unit looks in fine touch. With de Kock and Tony de Zorzi in excellent form, and Nandre Burger leading the pace attack, they’ll aim to maintain this winning rhythm and clinch the series in the next match.
Conclusion
The Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd ODI results reflected South Africa’s resilience and superior execution in all departments. After losing the first ODI, the Proteas bounced back strongly, powered by Quinton de Kock’s masterful century and disciplined bowling from Nandre Burger and Corbin Bosch.
Pakistan, though competitive, will rue its missed chances and lack of finishing power. With the series now evenly poised at 1–1, the final ODI promises to be a high-stakes clash between two talented sides eager to claim supremacy.
📝 Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available match data and verified sports reports. The statistics and match details are subject to updates from official cricket boards and media outlets.
🔗 Source
Match data and updates have been referenced from Cricbuzz, ESPN Cricinfo, and Google Sports.
Author: Prashant Sanjeeva Sherigara